Monday, July 6, 2009

A few days after the hideous Waxman-Markey bill (Cap and Trade) passed the House of Representatives, I did a post on some of the special favors some received in exchange for their supportive votes. A lot of people got REALLY mad after reading it. Well, here's another one.

It seems that Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) of Toledo wanted a new federal power authority similar to the Bonneville Power Administration in Washington State that would allow for lending to renewable energy and economic development projects in Ohio and other Midwestern states. How much did good ol' Marcy get for her project in exchange for her "yea"?? Drumroll please......$3.5 BILLION. The project was tucked into the 310-page amendment that was made public just hours before debate and a final vote were to begin.

Miss Kaptur trumpeted her handiwork on her congressional Web site. She said the new federal authority would bring new economic development to Ohio and the struggling Great Lakes region and would also ensure "regional equity" with other parts of the country that already have such programs.

"The federal government has been subsidizing infrastructure and economic development in other parts of the country since the New Deal. Now, it's our turn," she said. "With the Midwest taking the brunt of the economic crisis, my priority was to bring our region additional tools to create jobs and promote energy independence."

The provision empowers the Energy and Commerce departments to recommend to Congress the final structure of the new federal lending authority. In the meantime, the provision authorized $25 million in startup money in 2010.

Although the program would benefit his home state, House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, also of Ohio, criticized the provision during a more-than-hourlong speech Friday evening. He said an Ohio-based power authority was unneeded because electricity already flows well through Ohio without a new federal power authority.

Although political favors are nothing new on either side of the aisle, those who were flat out bribed for their vote on Waxman-Markey have no business being on Capitol Hill. Hey Marcy!!! Hasta la vista!!!